Is Media Corrupting Young Adults?

Americans are very enthralled with television. According to the U.S Energy Information Administration, an American owns on average 2.5 televisions, and more than 45 percent of Americans have one TV or more (“Share Of Energy...” par. 7). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most people over the age of fifteen spent 2.7 hours of the day watching TV in 2010 (“ATUSS,” par. 11-12). I am concerned that this vast intake of media is proving to be a extremely negative influence on young adults.

The media has negatively affected young people in many ways, one of those being its portrayal of the family circle. Disrespect of parents is being spread through the media like a disease.  Rita Offen writes in her book, The Chilled Parent - Effective Parenting - Peacefully and Powerfully, “65% say that shows like The Simpsons and Married… With Children encourage kids to disrespect parents” (87).  Fathers in particular are being disrespected.  Reporter Ray Richmond notes in his article “It’s No Joke: TV Dads Get Short Shrift” that dads have become the laughing stock in shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, while the mothers are depicted as the glue that holds the family together (par. 2-4). This disrespectful view of parents as dumb or ridiculous is a distorted view of family and is extremely harmful to the young adults hearing such a message.

Another form of disrespect appearing in the media is of  women. Media often presents women as merely sex objects, a representation that is damaging to young adult women. The American Psycological Association wrote a report titled “Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls,” in which they discuss the evidence for and dangers of media and society treating women as sex objects. They report that many studies indicate that women in particular are objectified and portrayed sexually. They mention television fashion shows in which women dressed in lingerie are made to look like young girls. Such influences create emotional, mental, and physical damage on young adults. Studies have found that objectification can cause lack of focus, depression, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and an unrealistic or wrong view of sex among other things (par. 1-18). The media has indeed done a terrible job of portraying women in a healthy manner.

Additionally, sex in the media could encourage young adults to have sex at a young age.  The anonymous author of the article, “Sex and Media Tips,” from the website Common Sense Media, states that 68% of TV shows have explicit sexual content.  Of those shows, only 15% discuss the risks involved. It also states that girls who come into contact with sexual media more often begin sexual activity younger than their peers (par. 1).  Sexuality has become significantly distorted in the media.

As well as creating an unrealistic view of sex, media also encourages young adults to begin drinking alcohol. In the article "The Effect Of Alcohol Advertising, Marketing And Portrayal On Drinking Behaviour In Young People: Systematic Review Of Prospective Cohort Studies" Lesley A. Smith and David R. Foxcroft discuss the connection between teen drinking and teen exposure to alcohol on T.V. They reference the words of M.D Thomas N. Robinson from his article “Television and Music Video Exposure and Risk of Adolescent Alcohol Use.”  Robinson says that in an 18 month period for each hour of time spent watching TV the probability of taking up drinking increases by 9%. Smith and Foxcroft also cite M.D James D. Sargent’s article “Effect of Seeing Tobacco Use in Films on Trying Smoking Among Adolescents: Cross Sectional Study.” Sargent reveals that for every hour of contact with alcohol in films the chances for the viewers to try alcohol in the next  13-16 months increases by 15% (7-8). As these sources show, there is a very significant connection between alcohol consumption and television viewing.

Alcohol isn’t the only substance being promoted by the media. Television also encourages young adults to smoke. Nathan Seppa discusses in his article “Bad Influence" the effects of smoking in films on youth.  In his article, he states that adolescents who watch many R-Rated movies are 3 times as likely to smoke then those who don’t watch them, and those with a T.V in their rooms are 2 times as likely. He also mentions that though some may argue smoking is only betrayed as a bad habit in the media, youth could still try to imitate the villain (148-149). The correlation between smoking and film watching suggests smoking coverage in films could have a negative effect on young adults.

Lastly the media’s portrayal of violence could be corrupting. M.D Eugene Beresin, Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training in Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital, writes in his article “The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents: Opportunities for Clinical Interventions” the effect violent media has on viewers, “The typical American child will view more than 200,000 acts of violence, including more than 16,000 murders before age 18. Television programs display 812 violent acts per hour; children's programming, particularly cartoons, displays up to 20 violent acts hourly” (par. 1-5). While it is evident that there is violence in the media, the concern lies in its effect on young adults. The article “Violence in the Media - Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects” by the American Psychological Association states that violence in the media may cause children to “...become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others...be more fearful of the world around them...be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others” (par. 1). The negative effects of the media, along with the vast amount of violent conduct in the media are perhaps partly to blame for the problem of violence in our culture.

However, some would argue that these negative effects could be avoided if viewers abide by the rating system.  The Motion Picture Association of America gives an in depth description of each rating:

A G-rated motion picture contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that, in the view of the Rating Board, would offend parents whose younger children view the motion picture... The PG rating indicates, in the view of the Rating Board, that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision... A PG-13 rating is a sterner warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether their children under age 13 should view the motion picture, as some material might not be suited for them... An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously... An NC-17 rated motion picture is one that, in the view of the Rating Board, most parents would consider patently too adult for their children 17 and under (par. 1-5).

However, what material is considered “unsuitable for children” differs from person to person and with time. Also, irresponsible young adults may watch unsuitable programing without the knowledge of their parents thereby corrupting their lives.

Granted, while there many negative aspects of the media, something must be said for the few positive aspects. According to the article “Educational TV May Boost Intellectual Development” from The Center for Media Literacy website, “Each year, the children's reading, math and vocabulary skills were assessed. The researchers found that younger children, especially those aged 2 and 3, who watched a few hours a week of educational programs had higher scoring on academic tests 3 years later than children who did not watch the programs” (par. 3). I actually agree with this claim, even though it may seem to oppose my view of the media as a corrupting influence.  Most would laugh at the assumption that Sesame Street or the Magic School Bus are corrupting.  I am not suggesting something so absurd. What I am suggesting is while there are a few T.V shows and movies that have redeeming qualities, this is not the case of the majority of modern media.

Now that I have shown the possible dangers of the media and its corrupting influence, I would like to say that T.V and films are not totally unredeemable. God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). We, like our Creator are supposed to want to create.  Films and television programs are an outflow of our God given desire to create. However, in our sinful world, the art of creating films and T.V programs have been somewhat corrupted. Film and television program producers should seek to glorify God in their work by ceasing to create films with unrealistic showcases of cigarette and alcohol consumption. Sexual content should be taken from the screens. Women should be depicted as more than just objects for sex. Parents should be respected in sitcoms. Violence should be shown sparingly. The media should strive to positively influence and nurture the young adults, with educational and moral programs.

In conclusion, the majority of modern media encourages an unrealistic view of sex, improper family roles, underage drinking and smoking, as well as violence. It would be ideal for the media to change, but until it does, so we have a responsibility to protect ourselves and our families from the corrupting influence of the media.

Works Cited

"American Time Use Survey Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. United States Department of Labor, 22 June 2011. Web. 01 Dec. 2011.

Beresin, Eugene V. "The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents: Opportunities for Clinical Interventions." American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Web. 01 Dec. 2011.

"Educational TV May Boost Intellectual Development." Center for Media Literacy. Web. 01 Dec. 2011.

Offen, Rita. The Chilled Parent - Effective Parenting - Peacefully and Powerfully. Cornwall: Ecademy, 2007. 87. Google Books. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. 

Seppa, Nathan. "Bad Influence." Science News 171.10 (2007): 149.Academic Search Elite. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. 

"Share of Energy Used by Appliances and Consumer Electronics Increases in U.S. Homes." U.S. Energy Information Administration . U.S. Department of Energy, 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 01 Dec. 2011.

Smith, Lesley A., and David R. Foxcroft. "The Effect Of Alcohol Advertising, Marketing And Portrayal On Drinking Behaviour In Young People: Systematic Review Of Prospective Cohort Studies."BMC Public Health 9.(2009): 7-8. Academic Search Elite. Web. 1 Dec. 2011.

"Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls." American Psychological Association (APA). Web. 05 Dec. 2011. 

Richmond, Ray. "It's No Joke: TV Dads Get Short Shrift." TODAY.com. 15 June 2004. Web. 01 Dec. 2011.

"Sex and Media Tips." Common Sense Media. 19 Nov. 2010. Web. 01 Dec. 2011.

"What Each Rating Means." Motion Picture Association of America. Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. Web. 01 Dec. 2011.